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Rhubarb Sherbet with Fresh Strawberry Sauce

If you hail from any of our northern states then you know that we are fast approaching spring rhubarb season. Rhubarb is traditionally enjoyed by gardeners living in cool climates such as Maine or Iowa, but it can also be grown in warm areas as an early spring or late fall crop.  This year I'm trying my hand at growing rhubarb.  We planted about 5 plants and I hope to make a nice harvest next spring.

Rhubarb Sherbet with Fresh Strawberry Sauce

Sherbet Ingredients:
4 cups cubed rhubarb, fresh or frozen
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup white corn syrup
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
2 egg whites
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Strawberry Sauce Ingredients:
2 pints strawberries
1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions:
To begin, boil the diced rhubarb in a half-cup of water until it is tender. This should take about 10 to 15 minutes. While continuing to cook add 1 cup of sugar to the rhubarb, stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove the mixture from heat and add corn syrup, orange juice, lemon juice and lemon rind. Turn the mixture into a chilled bowl and place in the refrigerator to cool.

Beat the egg whites, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of salt until foamy. Slowly add the chilled rhubarb syrup to egg whites. Whisk together until well combined. Pour solution into an ice cream freezer and rotate the freezer as you would if you were making homemade ice cream. Transfer the firm sorbet into a container and place in the freezer.

If you do not have an ice cream maker, pour the solution into a shallow dish and freeze until sherbet is frozen around the edges. Remove from freezer, mix until smooth and refreeze until almost solid. Repeat this process two more times.

While the sherbet is freezing you can make the strawberry sauce. Place 2/3 of the washed and hulled strawberries and 2 tablespoons of sugar in food processor or blender. Puree the strawberries, adding water if necessary, until smooth but not too runny. Slice the remaining strawberries and fold into sauce.

Just before you are ready to serve the sherbet, stir it briefly with a spoon to make it creamy. Serve cold, topped with the strawberry sauce.

This article is brought to you by Bonnie Plants. To learn more about Bonnie Plants and information about growing herbs and vegetables visit www.BonniePlants.com.